Art of packaging



Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARIN EIAL ART OF PACKAGING 8 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 INVENTOR- fiermrgkmapn and Adel h MeZettiOct. 28, 1958 B.'J. TAMARIN ETAL 2,857,720

ART OF PACKAGING OriginaI Filed Aug. 16, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28,1958 B. J. TAMARIN ET AL' 2,857,720

ART OF PACKAGING Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 a Sheets-$11991. 3

aJ/zes d we INVENTOR. BeznarJJ and Ale Melellt? Oct. 28, 1958 OriginalFiled Aug. 1.6, 1946 B. J. TAMARIN ETAL ART OF PACKAGING 8 Sheets-Sheet4 I INVENTOR. Bertram! J; Tamanc'n h Meletti Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARINETAL ART OF PACKAGING 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 R wm m Benny-J I Ta marlin B. J. TAMARIN ETAL 2,857,720

Oct. 28, 1958 v ART OF PACKAGING Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 8Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARlN ET AL ART OF PACKAGING 8Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Aug. 16, 1946 INVENTOR. Penn and J;Tamanin and [@d Me/ettzi Oct. 28, 1958 B. J. TAMARIN EIAL 2,857,720

ART OF PACKAGING Original Filed Aug. is, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet s F: l: 7 7I. I l I I I I I "I l INVENTOR.

Benna'r-J J: Tamavin 8nd I Meletti United States Patent ass-1,1 0 ART OFPAGKAGING Bernard J. Tamarin; Fleurteyvn; and Adolph Mel'etti,

Philadelphia, Pa., assig'no'rs, by direct and mesneassignnients, toPull-Packaging, Iiil, a corporation of Pennsyl'vania Originalapplication August 16, 1946, Serial No. 691,130, new Patent No.2,625,775, dated January 20, 1953; Divided andthis application January19,1953, Serial No. 332,022

9 Claims. (Cl. 53-14) A Our invention isa method of and apparatus forincorporating a pullin apackag'e for facilitating the opening thereofand preferably for initiating the ejection of an articleenclosed'therein, and our invention is particularly adapted for theproduction of a cigarette package inventedby Bernard Tamarinrandof thetype illustrated in his Patent No. 2,415,117. This application is adivision of application Serial Number 691,130, filed'Augus't 16, 1946',now Patent Number 2,625,775.

In accordance with our invention, a pull, such as a strip of tape, isoverlaid by a wrapper and the wrapper is formed into a container for agroup of articles, such as rows of cigarettes. The pullis' preferablyattached to one or more articles of the group or to the Wrapper or toboth wrapper and article, and portions of the Wrapper may be bent toform an. end closure having a member around which a pull section is. solooped that a pull thereon unfolds such member to expose an end of oneor more of the enclosed articles. 7

Preferably the pull is anchored to at'least oneof the exposed articlesso. that a continued pull on the pull after the opening of the closuremember causes the attached article to rise until the point of attachmentof the pull to the article clears the wrapper, whereupon the pull isstripped from the article and the latter is left projecting from butpositioned by the remaining articles of. the group encased in.theWrapper.

The wrapper and pull are preferably fed to a suitable support forpositioning them relatively to one another during the overlaying of thepull' by the Wrapper and the formation of a container from the Wrapperaround the pull and during the insertion of a group of' articles intosuch container.

Preferably each pull is. cut from a strip of multi-ply cellophane tapewhich is longitudinally creased to impart thereto a tendency to asumea'channeled cross section which stifIens the tape longitudinally tofacilitate its rectilineal movement transversely to "thepath of'a'strip' of sheet material from which a' wrapper may be cut substantiallyconcurrently With the severanceof a-pull'froni the tape strip; The;creased and channeled'cross section of the pull further facilitates theattachment thereof to one of the articles enclosed in the container;such attachment preferably being effected after the ejection of thecontainer and its contents from the support'on'which the container isformed.

Each Wrapper is preferably pre-slit along'converging lines diagonal toone edge. The portion ofthe wrapper containing diagonal slits'formsacontaiuermargin' pro viding tuck and fold extensionsp'rojecting beyondthe ends of the articles housed intheicontainenand' such marginalportion-is tucked andfoldeddown transversely to the body of thecontainer-to forman end closurein eluding a member about-which an outerportion of the pull is looped; to which the pull is preferablyattached,- and from which the terminus of the pull projects laterally.Preferably theend closure member about which the pull is looped consistsof a tuck, which is partly 2,857,720 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 2'. overlaidby minor sectionsofsuch' folds which are sev" ered from; the majorsections of suchqfolds by the'di agonal-slitsinthe mar-ginal portiontof-aeilitate the'suh sequent; unfolding of the minorfold sections" byrise 6f thetuck; covered thereby when it islifted' by a pull orf thepull looped thereotn- The major sections of the folds are secured by astamp or the like adhesivelyat tached to the front and-back Walls-havinganedge slightly over-lapping thediagonaledg'es of theminor fold sectionstoyieldingly-hold such minor fold sections in c'losed pos'r tions.-

At any stage in the proceedings, and preferably at-ari earlystage, theend of the container remote fromthe-pult terminus may be closed in anydesired manner; and thecontainer formedby the wrapper may besheathediiia; label jacket. After both ends: of the container closed;- it maybe; enveloped in a cellophane covering of the'like'to' provide apackagesimilar general appeaf ance-to-standard cigarette packages;

When our; invention is utilized in connection withithe packagingzof;cigarettes or analogous articles, the'pulh is preferablyattached ata-point alongthe middle portion of acigarette which is spaced fromthe'wrap'perby a d= joiningcigarettes-so that theinnerportionio'fathdpull lies in a channelbetween the cigarette to Whichthe.pull=is' attached; and the wrapper; such channel preferably bein'g'bounded laterally by end cigarettes of rows on opposite sides of thecigarette towhich the pull is attached" when the cigarettes-arearrangedin rows 76 7'. However; the pull may b e attac-hed-to anendcig'aretteofl a-side rovti and lie in achannel-between sueh cigaretteand" a comet of the'p'ackage-When' thecigarettes are arrangedin rows776; 7 r J V The pull is preferably attached to the cigaie'tte by meansof an adhesiveapplied thereto'bfore the group has been fully housedWithin the. wrapper. We have found it advantageous to apply theadhesive-to" airend cigarette after the g roup has been assembledandprefeliably after it has been partly inserted withinthe con tainerformed-by. the wrappenandtothe r completethe insertion of thecigarettegroup into the'containerwhile the-pull stripis out of contact with the'adhesively coated cigarette and 1 thereafter to press the:pull= strip jinto coii tact; with the-adhesively coated section" of the cigarette!While our method is capable of practice manually,-i t is particularlyapplicable to providing-pullsforpackages during, their manufacture onstandard-types of-= cigarette packaging maehineshavingia turretfoffo'rmitrgssequeir tial containers andrnech'anism 'for g'ro'upingiandcompact? ingcigarettesand fillingt'the respective containers ther= with=immediately after completion of the containers? Our invention embracesapparatushereinaften described whereby 'thesteps of our methods "may berapidlys'ca'rrie'd out during theformationand" loading: of a containefto produce asealed package having a pull for opening it and: initiating:the ejectionof its contents? The principles and characteristic featuresof our infvention, and the manner of practicing our method and ofmaking; constructingand-usingi.iour' apparat1-is'-will further appearfrom the accompanying drawings' aifd the following descriptionexplaining 'the bestrno'des in''whicl 'i weha ve :c'onte'rnplatedapplying such principles.

In the dr awiiigg Figll is a' erspective on 16Wsu'pport or formerforthiing a part of our inve an'd ada'pted to" facilitate the assembly'of i the" p elements,- viz), container constituents antl' conte thepreferred practic'e of'our" method and'in" th 1) ferred"embodiment'ofour paratus;'Figt 2'i1 fr'a' diagrammatically thein'itialpositioning of apart wrapper relatively t'o'one anothen andpitiferably-gela tively tothe' tanner shown in Fig. l, in the practice;Of

our method after the pull and wrapper have been severed from therespective strips of which they initially form parts; Fig. 3 illustratesdiagrammatically a later step in our method by which the wrapper iswrapped on the former and the pull is bent thereby; the remote end ofthe wrapper being tucked and folded to form a closure; Fig. 4illustrates diagrammatically the application of adhesive to a side ofthe soft shell formed from the wrapper, the point of application beingadjacent to the bent end of the pull; Fig. 5 illustratesdiagrammatically the positioning of a label blank relative to the shell,pull and former; Fig. 6 illustrates diagrammatically the further bendingof the pull strip and the tacking thereof to an end tuck extension ofthe shell after the label blank has been wrapped around the shell toprovide a double walled pouch; the free end of the pull overlying thejacket formed from the label; Fig. 7 illustrates the position of theformer, shell, pull and jacket just before the introduction of thebundle or load to be housed in the package; Fig. 8 is a diagrammaticpart sectional view illustrating the insertion of a bundle of cigarettesinto the hollow former with the pouch thereon; the cigarettes projectingoutward partway beyond the open end of the shell; Fig. 9 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 8 and illustrating diagrammatically the application ofan adhesive to a cigarette of the bundle intermediate the length of suchcigarette; Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view further illustratingthe application of the adhesive to the cigarette so that such adhesiveis spaced from the inner wall of the former; Fig. 11 is a longitudinalsectional view illustrating the completion of the insertion of a bundleof cigarettes through the former and into the pouch and the partialremoval of the bundle and pouch from the former; Fig. 12 a diagrammaticfragmentary sectional view illustrating the tucking and folding of theopen end of the shell after the bundle of cigarettes has been pushedhome and the positioning of a new wrapper with respect to the former;Fig. 14 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the pouchafter one fold has been bent over the end tucks and pull; Fig. 15 is adiagrammatic transverse sectional view illustrating the tacking of thepull to the adhesive spot previously applied to a cigarette; Fig. 16 isa perspective view of a completed package with parts broken away to showthe adhesion of the pull to a cigarette; Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the cutting of a strip of sheet material to form a wrappersuitable for use in our method; Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic top plan view,with parts broken away, of a standard type of cigarette packagingmachine having applied thereto our novel apparatus for the practice ofour method; Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic rear elevation, partly in section,of the principal parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is afront elevation of driving apparatus through which certain of the partsof the standard packaging machine and certain parts of our apparatus maybe operated in timed relation; Fig. 21 is a detached perspective viewshowing the folding of a wrapper around a former and a pull thereon;Fig. 22 is a detached perspective view showing the end of the pull bentat right angles to the wrapper; Fig. 23 is a part sectional elevation ofpull and wrapper feeding mechanism and taken approximately on the line2323 of Fig. 18; Fig. 24 is an elevation of a pull strip feeder taken onthe line 2424 of Fig. 23; Fig. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view of apull strip creasing device looking in the general direction of line25-25 of Fig. 23; Fig. 26 is an elevation of an adhesive applicator andtaken approximately on the lines 26-26 of Fig. 19; Fig. 27 is anenlarged fragmentary view showing parts of the adhesive applicator ofFig. 26 in their relation to the former and a shell thereon; Fig. 28 isan elevation of mechanism for bending the pull against an adhesive spoton the shell and looking in the general direction indicated by line28-28 of Fig. 19; Fig. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of asecond adhesive applicator looking in the general direction indicated bythe line 29-49 of Fig. 18; Fig. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary view,partly in section, taken approximately on the line 3030 of Fig. 18,showing the mechanism for maintaining contact between the pull and acigarette in a package until the tacking of the pull to the cigarette iscomplete; Fig. 31 is a detached longitudinal sectional view illustratingthe ejection of a cigarette bundle from a compressor into a former; Fig.32 is a perspective view of a detached package before the folding of theend extension thereof; Fig. 33 is a perspective view of a filled pouchWith its end tucked and partly folded; Fig. 34 is a perspective view ofa completed package, minus a stamp; and Fig. 35 is a perspective view ofa completed and stamped package with parts broken away to show thetacking of the pull to a cigarette.

In packaging cigarettes, for example, in accordance with our invention,we preferably form an inner shell of the package from a rectangularwrapper 1 having spaced slits 2 and 3 extending diagonally inward froman edge of the wrapper and converging toward one another. Such wrappersmay consist of any desired type of sheet material but are preferablymade from strips of laminated paper and metal foil.

In making a wrapper, a laminated strip is preferably cut to form theslit 3 before the severance of the wrapper from the strip, and the stripis then cut to simultaneously form the slit 2 and sever the wrapper fromthe strip.

The slitting and severance of a wrapper may be performed in any desiredmanner but is conveniently effected, as shown in Fig. 17, by feeding alaminated strip 4 in the path of a cutter 5 having short diagonal endblades 6 and 7 and an intermediate long blade 8. When the laminatedstrip and cutter are brought into cutting relationship, the blade 6 cutsa diagonal slit 3 in an unsevered section of the strip 4; the blade 8severs a section from the strip 4 to form a wrapper 1, andsimultaneously with such severance the blade 7 cuts a slit 2 in thewrapper 1 being severed; such Wrapper 1 already containing a slit 3 cutduring the severance of a preceding wrapper.

In the practice of our method, we preferably utilize a hollow support orformer 9, one end of which is seated in a hollow block or bracket 10forming a peripheral rim about one end of the former 9. The rim 10 has abeveled nose 11 which extends over one of the narrower faces 9a of theformer 9 and contains a slot 12 extending longitudinally of the formerand having a bottom inclined downwardly toward the surface of the face9a. The inner end of the inclined bottom of the slot 12 is separatedfrom the surface of the face 9 by a short step 13. The rim 10 and former9 contain a through aperture 14 having its mouth in the bottom of thegroove 12 adjacent to the step 13.

In the preferred practice of our invention, a strip of longitudinallycreased pull tape 15 is projected through the slot 12 and over thesurface 9a at or about the time a wrapper 1 is positioned in the path ofmovement of the front or leading surface of the former 9, as shown inFig. 2. The free end of the projected tape rests on the surface 9a nearthe end thereof opposite to the step 13 and the section of tape adjacentto the top of the step 13 is spaced from the surface 9a a distancesubstantially equal to the height of the step 13. The tape is thensevered adjacent to the mouth of the former to leave a pull 15' restingin the channel 12 and on the surface 90.

The Wrapper 1, with the slit 2 above the level of the surface 9a, isbent circumferentially around the former 9, as shown in Fig. 3, so thatthe slits 2 and 3 are in substantial alignment on opposite sides of theformer 9. One edge of the wrapper 1 is adjacent to the bottom of thestep 13, and when the wrapper 1 is drawn tightly against the surface 9a,the projecting end 15a of the pull 15' is bent by the step 13 at rightangles to the sur- '5 face 9a and to the tape section resting thereon,thereby uncovering themouth ofthe aperture 14'; i

The juxtaposed transverse edges of'the wrapperl" may beadhesivelyconnected to form a seam lfi'andtheportionof the Wrapper 1 projectingbeyond the end of the former 9may be tucked and'folded-in any'usual manher to form. a bottom. closure for the soft shell thus formed from thewrapper 1".

A tacky adhesive is applied by' any. suitable means, such as, anapplicator 17, as shown in Fig. 4, tothe side surface of'the soft shellin alignment'with the bent end 15211 of. the pull 15 and preferablyonthe endextension of the shell from which. the. top closure willbeformed;

If it is desired that the shell be sheathed in a'printed jacket, asecond wrapper. or label I8, of somewhat less width than the wrapper1,'is applied to the shell onthe former 9, as shown in Fig. 5, so thatthe inner edge of the label 18' leaves exposed the adhesive drop appliedby the; applicator 17. When the label or wrapper" 18 has been bentcircumferentially around the shellltoform a jacket, theprojecting pullstrip section 15'ais folded'down against the end extension of the shelland against the jacket by any suitablemeans such. as, afolde'r' 19, andthe folded-end 15a.of 'thepull is lightly tacked in place by the spot ofadhesive previously applied by the applicator 17.

Theouter end of the label, or Wrapper 18 may be tuckedin any usualmanner, asfor instance by tuckers' 20, and the flaps between the tucksthen folded and secured together; By combiningthe shell and jacketthere. is provided a double walled pouch havingfa pull extending alongthe inner surface of the shell and overlying. and tacked to the outersurface" of the. shell, as shown in vFig. 7.

A bundle of cigarettes 31 is inserted in the open, flared mouth of the.former 9 with the pouch thereon, the bundle preferably being preformedand.composed of. twoouter r'owsl31a and 3111, each containing an oddnumber of cigarettes, and an intermediate row 31c containingan evennumber of cigarettes. The end cigarette 310. of they intermediate row31c forms thebottom of a shallow channel lying between the endcigarettes of the. outer rows 31'aand 31b.

A.spot.32 of adhesive is applied intermediate the ends of the endcigarette 31c before the bundle of..cigarettes is. fully seated in thesoft shell or pouch formed by the wrapper 1, but preferably after a.group of cigarettes have been assembled'in a bundle. p

This adhesive spot 32 is preferably applied to the cigarette at a pointalong its length such that when the cigarette is shifted lengthwise tobring its spot adjustment to the fold line between the pouch and itstuck, one end of the cigarette will project-frornthe pouch suffi cientlyto be easily grasped, whereas the other end of the cigarette willibe sofar down withinthe-pouchas to firmly position the cigarette. Onacigaretteofordi: nary length, the spot is preferably on-theintermediatehalfof the length of the cigarette, that-is ata point not less thanone-fourth its length from either end, and an advantageous positionisapoint spaced from its outer end approximately two-fifths the length ofthe cigarette.

The spot of adhesive 32 may be conveniently applied to thetcigarette 31cat-the desired p'ointby insertingzthe adhesively coated end ofanapplicator- 33 (Figs. 9 and through the aperture 14 in the former 9when the outer end of the cigarette bundle is aligned with the outeredge of the mouth of the former.

The cigarette 310 is positioned' by engagement inthe grooves between thetwo upper cigarettes of the respective rows 31a and 31b (Figs. 10 andand its peripheral surface is thereby held in spaced relation from theinner face of the former member 9a (Fig. 10).. Hence the bundledcigarettes may be pushed as a group through theformer 9 without contactof the adhesive spot 32- asamze with the inner face of the former orwith the inner face of'the pouch-when the latter is detaelie'd ffohhe-reenter.-

The application of pressure to the enter end-lot the cigarette bundlewillforce the cigarettes through the former 9 so as to first seat theinner ends offthe' ig; arettes' against the bottom of the pouch and thendis-' charge the pouch, with the cigarettes therein; from the for'mer'9,asshown'in-Fi'gs. 11and l2.

This longitudinal'movernent of the pouch'slides thepull 15' along theformer member 9a'witlioutlongitudinally crumpling the pull; Theportionofthe' pull lying within the ejected pouch tends to resume itschannel-like: cross section and drop into the channel'formedby'the-ciga'rettes 31a and the end cigarettes'of the rows-31aand 3177 oneither side thereof.

After the filled pouch'has'beenejectedfrom thefornier. 9, the projectingend sections In andl b thereof (Fig. 1 1) are tucked manually or:by'conventional. tuckers 35,. as shown in Fig. 12.; The tucking of thesectionv 121', to whichis attached the exterior section 15:: of thepull; preferably'b'rings this section 15a into the efle'ctivefizone" ofan electric eye 36a in a circuit'preventing the subse: quent operationof a'conventional'throw-out' mechanism or alarm, andwhich are'actuatedin the absence or displacement of the pull section 1521.

When the extensions 1a.and.1b have been tucked,.the side extensions 10and 121 (Fig. l4)"are folded'over the tucksand over a portion" of thepull section overlying" the tuck section 122 and securedbya stamp 37.

It is preferablethat the sections, 12z.a'nd 1b be tucked before thesections 10 and ldare folded, as shown in Figs. 12 to 16, but it will beunderstooditha'tthe top extensions may befirstfolded'aridithentucked'inthe same manner as the bottom extensions,as shown in Figs. 3'an d 4, or the top may he closed by firsttucking'one eaten.- sion, then formingone fold; then tucking another setion; and thenfo'rming a second fold, orbyoihe'r'conibinae tions oftucks and folds, butvn'one of'such closures are as effective as havingthe tuck sectionlkz. evenaiaaby, a pair of'folds. I

To insureadhesionofthe.pull;to the cigarette 16' by the adhesive spot.32, the edge, of. the. pouch may be bulged, inward, as for. instanceby apressurevfinger. 36; so. as to. press the;pull,15' firmly-intocontact,withfthe adhesive spot and holdit thereuntilsuch'spothas.solidi-- fied, as .shown in Figs. 15 and 16.Thepackage-istlien further sealed, by pasting a stampi37jl overlthefoldsectionslc. and 1dso as.to overlie, the now intersecting cuts '2and 3 therein.

To open the package andejectta cigarette, it is only necessary to pullon the pull section;1.5 a. laterally. ofthe package. The pull on thepulldraws thertucked section 1a upward and outward and crumples it,thereby displacing the fold sections 10' and 1d! from beneaththe stamp;37, and drawingthe cigarette 31c upward. As soon as the rise ofthecigarette 31c moyestthe spot 32 above the crumpled tucksection la', the;lateral stress on the pull .15 strips itvfrom the cigarette 31c by-asplitting action without defacing the cigarette, which is left projecting: ;part way from the package but-withitsremainder held'byitsengagement between the. cigarettes of. the end rows and preventedthereby from dropping;

The steps of our. rnethodmay; be=manually-performed but may be: more.rapidlyand eflieiently performedlby standing of the positioning andcoaction of our apparatus relative thereto, but it will be understoodthat in the formation of a complete package various conventlonal stepsand operations are involved that are not Illustrated in detail hereinbecause they are well known and constitute no part of our invention.

In the drawings, and particularly in Figs. 18 and 19, there isillustrated a conventional intermittently rotatable turret or rotorcarried by a shaft 41 mounted in a usual frame. The turret is providedwith a disk shaped section 42 on which are mounted a series of ourimproved, equidistantly spaced brackets 10, such as shown in Fig. 1,which provides seats for the flaring mouths of the hollow formers orsupports 9, which are of substantially the same shape and cross sectionas the package to be formed. These formers 9 may be made of thin sheetmetal and are preferably twelve in number.

The turret 40 is turned intermittently in the usual manner to bring therespective formers 9 step by step into cooperative relation to variousmechanisms at or between a series of stops or stations corresponding inposition to the numerals on the dial of a clock when the turret isviewed from the front, and for convenience these stations may bedesignated by the I to XII oclock positions to which they correspond.

The proper timing of the step by step or intermittent movement of theturret 40 may be accomplished by any suitable indexing device (notshown), forming no par-t of our invention. The indexing device may beoperated by power applied in the usual manner from a drive shaft 43(Fig. 20) connected by beveled gears with a main shaft 44 which hasfixed thereto a spur gear 45 meshing with a gear 46 on the shaft 47. Theshaft 47 has fixed thereto a gear 48 meshing with a gear 49 on the shaft50. A beveled gear 51 on the shaft meshes with a I beveled gear 52 onthe shaft 53 connected with the indexing mechanism (not shown) forrotating the turret.

Sheet material, such as paper, tinfoil or laminated paper and tinfoil Tis fed from a supply roll (not shown) over the roller 54 (Fig. 19) andbetween the guide rollers 55 and 56. The roller 54 is loosely journalledon a shaft 57 journalled in a bracket of the packer frame in the usualmanner. The shaft 57 has fixed thereto a pair of sprocket wheels, one ofwhich is driven, through the chain 58 and suitable intermediatemechanism, from the chain 58' (Figs. 19, 20) meshing with a sprocket 59on the drive shaft 43. The other sprocket wheel is connected through asprocket chain 60 with a sprocket wheel 61 fixed on the shaft of thefeed roller 55 in the usual manner.

The rollers 55 and 56 are mounted in a pair of frames 1 62 verticallyoscillatable about the axis of the shaft 57 as a center. The oscillationof the frames 62 and the rotation of the rollers 55, 56 and 54 feeds thestrip T step by step past the triple bladed cutter mechanism 5 (Figs. 17and 23), which, in accordance with our invention, is mounted on thebracket 63 (Fig. 19) in place of the usual single bladed cuttermechanism of conventional packers. This triple bladed cutter mechanismis operable in timed relation to the feed of the wrapper strip T and tothe rotation of the turret 40 by the actuating mechanism customarilyused to operate the conventional single bladed cutter mechanism.

In accordance with our invention, a tape layer 64 (Figs. 18, 23) ismounted in alignment with station XII on the housing (not shown) whichnormally overlies the rearwardly extending portion of the turret 40.

The tape feeder 64 (Figs. 23, 24, 25) preferably comprises a folder 65;a pair of peripherally contacting feed rollers 66 and 67 forintermittently advancing the pull tape 15; and a cutter 68 for cuttingfrom the tape 15 a length sufficient for a pull 15' after delivery to asupport or former 9 at position XII. V

The folder 65 consists 'of a plate containing a narrow slot 65 throughwhich the tapelS is led to creaseit longitudinally and impart thereto atendency to assume a channel shape or V-cross section imparting greaterlongi' tudinal rigidity to the tape.

The feed wheel 66 is fixed to a shaft 66a which is journalled in theframe 69 and has a bevel gear 70 and a gear 71 fixed to the endsthereof. The feed wheel 67 is fixed on a shaft 72 provided with aknurled knob 74 and a gear wheel 75; this shaft being journalled in aslide 76 which is vertically movable on slideways 77 of the frame 69.The slide 76 is normally biased downwardly by springs 78 and a follower79 which is adjustable by a screw having a knurled knob 80 to regulatethe traction between the peripheries of the feed wheels 66 and 67.

The gears 71 and 75 mesh with one another to effect their simultaneousrotation, and may be manually positioned by the knurled knob 74 toregulate their initial position relative to the tape 15 when the knurledknob 80 has been unscrewed to diminish the traction between the wheels66 and 67. The length of the tape fed per revolution of the wheels 66and 67 may be varied by the use of feed wheels of different diameters.

The feed wheels 66 and 67 are mechanically driven through the beveledgear 70 by means of a beveled gear 81 fixed on a shaft 82 (Figs. 23, 24)journalled in bearings 83 of a frame bracket. The shaft 82 has fixedthereon a spur gear 84 meshing with a gear 85 fixed on the shaft 86. Theshaft 86 is rotated step by step in timed relation with the wrapperfeeder and turret 40 through any suitable step by step mechanism, suchas a Geneva movement or mutilated gear (not shown) so as to rotate thefeed wheels 66 and 67 in desired timed relation to the movements of theturret 40, so that a tape strip 15' is laid on each former 9 in positionXII during or immediately following the ejection of a filled packagefrom the former and before the folding of a new wrapper 1 on the former.

The Geneva movement, mutilated gear or other suitable step by stepmechanism may be driven through any suitable means such as gearing 87,88, from a source of continuous rotary power, such as the shaft 57actuated from the main shaft 43.

As soon as a suitable section of the tape 15 has been laid upon theformer 9, the cutter 68 is rocked by power applied through the link 68'from any suitable source, such for instance as the link 97 hereinafterdescribed.

In conventional cigarette packaging machines there may be provided atransfer plunger carried by the turret in complementary relation to eachformer 9, or a series of plungers may be mounted on the turret housingand reciprocated in the various formers 9 as they are moved intoalignment with the several plungers. Our improvements are adapted foruse without change with either plunger arrangement, and, as an exampleonly, we have illustrated our improvements in conjunction with theformer type of plunger arrangement wherein each plunger is reciprocablein a complementary former 9 to a limited degree during a major portionof the turrets rotation by a cam mounted on the turret housing and isreciprocable to a greater degree at position XII by a supplementaryplunger carried by the housing and reciprocable by an oscillating leverhaving a timed relation to the turrets rotation.

In accordance with our invention (Figs. l8, 19, 23), there issubstituted for each usual transfer plunger complementary to a former 9,a pusher or head 90 having a cam operated shaft 91 offset from thecenter thereof so as to lie below the feeder 64 so that the modifiedplunger 9091 may be reciprocated by the usual cam and lever mechanismswithout interference by or with the tape feeder 64.

As above noted, the rim or bracket 10 of each former 9 is provided witha groove or channel 12 for positioning the pull 15 cut from the tape,with a step 13 for bending the pull at right angles when a wrapper 1 isfolded on the former 9, and with an aperture 14 adjacent to the step 13for -the insertion of an adhesive applicator. To assist 9t he W 11Dheroo in-pps tiening the. nul 15'. a $Rl u ;d92" y; e meunt' 'don thepacker: n pesit nfo n age e by the pper" surfae'eof the rim. during the.initialimovement"'thereofffom XII e k' p i n t dl'ee be pos o -(Fi s-1f9; 2.3

he r ppe 1 c omn h s ip: fb'y the cutter and'p o id dw e Ot 2 and' ;,apreviou y; de- S!ib d i held a a t he ead n r a' ftro t side are QUB?! 9at XII" pos tion i t sw r n Wr ped" emnf i l 'yr about uch f rme y etlsualw a pin' a s a h ermer oves f om stat on II teete i t Inaccordance wi h' u inv n n, this wrappingof t e wrap e 1' a qu dth' fare T(F"i'gs- 'lraindz'z) sttds l P .1S .l P;- 5' a ainst he t p 13 nda rh angles to the face 9a ofthe formergthere'by clearing the channel 12and uneoveringth'e aperturetl ll' When t e e em ty. .5a Q i e pull habeen: thus' b nt" t htan e the adhesive tip d, =a 1ieator. 17' may bebrought into-action-at any suitable location, as fo nsta e a the ta i nL T e ppli a e flrod 17 y be neunted' n a he st a 3 (F s 21') andiy'ildina y. pr n gb ase y an adius te pr n -Mtherein. The en i flfi mo tedn arm .i is i ot d on bearings 96: (Fig 18)i n the frameof'thepacker'and biased bya spring 95'i Thearrnj95is' oscillated, through} apivoted'flexible link 97 byJa cam 98"fixed ongthe main: S annaig 18:19;20, 126;and27); I

The lever95iihas a c am.n os e 99.,'(Fi' gs. 19', 26j)'for e a in an a 0f e l ra k. fn ei "en" a bearing 1 01; the bell 'crank including anarm102,. in which' is journalled a wheel 103having;a"beveledj edg'ei Thebearing a 101 is supported, by a.. bracket 1 104j"o i anadhesivefountain 105, and the bell crank arirn102ji's biasedflagainst thelactionof'thjecam 98 ,by a spring 106 anchored on the bracket 104; I

Thefo'untain 105jcontains a bevelled 'edge:whfeeli1 07 which rotates inand projects abovean ladhesive pool in the fountain; lf 'desired, thewheel107 may be cojntinu ously rotated by a motor 108.

The cam 98 is so shaped that during theportion'ofthe rotation oi theshaft 44',' which,eifects aj step'movement of the 'turr'et 40;'thespring 95," is permittedtobias; down. ward the rear endjof thelever95and"elvatethe forward-end of this, lever so as tolifttheappliator stem 17 "out of the path of any movingfo'rmer 9.fInthis posi; tion, the bellqcrank100+102is,turned on its'axis 101 so asto bring the bevelediedge of the adh'esively coated wheel 10'3fintocontact with the end offthe applicator stem 17 and coat it withadhesive.

When -a former 9,. with a wrappertl folded; thereon, comes to rest atthe station 1; the cam 98 elevates .the link 97 to rockthe lever 95"soas to ,movc'the-"stem'.17 downwardly-to deposita spot of adhesive on theouter. face-of' the wrapper section adjacent to the upturnedpull section151i. The downward'movernent of the nose'99i of the lever 95 permits thespring 106to retract'the'wheel' 103- from the path of the stem 17,andibringjthe periphery, ofthe wheel 103 into contact with; theadhesively coated periphery of the rotating -wheel"107i v Di'iringtheprogress-of'atormer 9 from station Ito station'V; the wrapper -1thereonis tucked andfdlded andsheathed in a la'beljjacket"in-the usualrnanner the timethe former 9 -arrives;at-station VI; the wrapping;

- tucking-and foldingof 'the inner-wrapper or'shell' and ofthe :jackethave been completed and consequently the" pull-extension a m a-y nowibe" further =bent--soasito' overlie the'edge Qf thelabeljacket and besecuredin' position by the adhesive spot=-previ0us1y applied to theshell by the applicator 17.

This bending 'or folding ofthepull extensiorr-15zi at station V I maybeeffe'ctedby mounting the foldihgfinger 19 on theend of a bentlever109"fulcrumed*on a frame bearing 110 and connected through anadjtistable; yielding; link 'lllwith an arm 112 fir'red'toth'e-conventionaloscil f 10 lating lever 340 for. reciprocatingthesupplernentary phinger for operating}, eachj transfer-plunger at.stat XII abo've' referred .to viz, the part 340 '1 of "Patent No; 9;12j6;192.' The arm 12"is" fiXedto'the1ever 340 adja eiit' tothe'ax'isiof oscillation th'ereofif. The'link IIIcOniprisesi telescopedmembers having limitedilongitudinalmove merit relative" to oneanother'and normallyi biased" to their outward positions byacoiledjspring, Hence when the lever 3 l0is .rocked"tothefulllin'evposition shown in Fig. 28" to advance aphi'nger 9(latstation XII'tothe" position shown in Fig." 23; it rocks-the member1'12Zand thrust is transmitted through the springl'of the linkilll tothelever 109 tornove the folder '19'Jyieldi'ngly against and"f'old"apull extension 1521 of'a' p o'uch ona former 9 at station VLDuringtrar'rsit ofa pouch fror'n'station I to station VI the adhesive,applied "by the applicator 1Tbecomes more tacky so that 'whenthe pullextension 15ais folded at stationVL; it immediately adherest'o thfadhesive-spot on the shell. I

ln'pa'ssing fr'omjstation Vl'toward' station IX, the pouch issubjectedto the'action of aiheater (not shown) to drj the adhesives. sealingitsseams and'end's and attaching'; the end 1521 of the pull to the shell.

Upon the arrival of each former 9at station IX, there'- isibrought into.registration therewith on'e'of. a series of. pockets 115 (Figs. .18,19,31) each containing alcorn pacted bundleiof cigarettes SIfarrangedJinthree rows; preferably containing: respectively. 7'6'17" cigarettes- Thepockets 1'15' are carrie'dflon thearm of a convenl-i tional rotarycompactingimechanism 116;

When a pocket 11'5"is brought into1registration with the .mouth"of'aformer-9;,the' transfer plunger 90 cornplernentaryto the latter is'operated in the usual manner by 'carn on theturret housing; (notshown').' to push the bundle of; cigarettes 31 out of 'the'compactor.pocketf'llsl into the former 9" so1that the outerends of"the'cigarette's? are fl'ti'sh' with the .7 edge of the mouth of theformer 9 and rim 10.'(see Figs. 18, 19., and 31); The plunger 90" is'then retracted by the cam (not shown) to permitrelatiye movements of theturret 40 and 'cornpactor-116'. t

After the bundle ofi'cigarettes' 31has been-inserted in. a pouch, anadhesive"applicator"33is 'insert'ed in the aper ture 14-" throughthe rim10 and"former' 9" to. apply "a' spot of ;adhesive' -32"to an'end'cigarette oftthe middle row-of the-bundle.- Pieferablytheinsertionin the appli cator-takes place "when theformer' 9 stops at' station Theapplicator 33, and the mounting i and"op er-ation' thereof;-aresimilar-to the applicator 17 andthe'mount'- ing and operation-thereof;that istoisay; the headed stern 33-(Fig.; 29) is-reciprocablyrnoi1nted-in a 'housingz9 3iz and yieldingly spring biased'by anadjustable spring 94}; therein: The housing -93 a-is mounted inan"arrn-95iii, which ispivoted" on-hearings-96ft in'thefrarn of thepacker" andbiascd b'y"a= spring* 952'1 mounted" on the packer-frame: Thearm 95z'iis'rocked'through apivoted, flexible link' 97a 'by' a" cam 98w'fixed" to the main shaft? 44 '(Figs.-19; 20"and29); The-lever 95a ha's'acarn-nose 99a-forengaging-the arm 10041 ofa =bett crank leverfulcrumed on the bearing'ltlla'and having warm-102d inwhich-isjournalleda wheel- 103a-having a' beveled edge. The bearing-101d issupported by a bracket 1040 of air adhesive -fountain --a,- andthe bellcrank arm 102a isb'iasedbya spring {'106a anchorecl onthe'bracket 104d?The -fountain 105d contains a'beveled wheel lo i ir which rotates in andprojectsabove an adhesive-poolin the fountain. If-dsir'edith wheel-107dmay be' -continuou-sly rotated bya motor similar to the =motor' 168 1'The cam 98:: is-so shaped-thatduringthe portion of the rotatio'nof 'th'eshaft "44 which effe'cts a step'ni'ovement of th -turret,-- thespring95a.- is permitted i to bias dawn-- wa'rd'the'rear 'end of the lever 95a(Fig. 29 ,"thereb y' ele vating 'th "forward-end of the lever "95h so"as to lift the applicator stern 33' out of the path of any movingformer' 9.1 Inthis'position ofq'the lever asamnig. 19)" the-bell crank10021, 10251' is 'tu'rn'edion' itSax'i 1012i soias" tow 11 bring thebeveled edge of the adhesively coated wheel 103a into contact with theend of the applicator stem 33 and coat it with adhesive. When a former 9containing a bundle of cigarettes 31 comes to rest at, for instance, thestation XI, the cam 98a acts through the link 97a to rock the rear endof the lever 95a upward so as to move the spring biased stem 33downwardly through the aperture 14 in the rim and former 9 to deposit aspot of adhesive 32 on the end cigarette 310 of the middle row 310 ofthe bundle (Figs. 9, 10, 29). V

The aperture 14 is preferably positioned at a distance of about 1 /8inches from the mouth of the former 9 so that the spot of adhesive 32 isapplied to the middle half of 'the length of the cigarette.

The downward movement of the nose 99a of the lever 95a, toward theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 29, permits the spring 1061: toretract the wheel 103a from the path of the stem 33 and bring theperiphery of the Wheel into contact with the adhesively coated peripheryof the wheel 107a to renew the supply of adhesive on the wheel 103a.When the pin 33 is again rocked away from the former 9, to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 29, the nose 99a of the lever 95:: engagesand rocks the bell crank arm 100a so as to move the periphery of thewheel 1031: into engagement with the end of the stem 33 and renew thesupply of adhesive thereon.

When a filled former 9 has been moved from position XI to position XII,its plunger 90 is given an extreme forward movement through the lever340 to complete the insertion of the bundled cigarettes into the formerand against the bottom of the pouch and to eject the cigarettes andpouch from the former 9, as shown in Fig. 23. This movement transfersthe filled pouch into the entrance of the delivery guideway 120 and intoposition for the usual tucking and folding of its sections 1a, 1b, 1cand 1d. The stripped former 9 is thus prepared for the laying of a newpull strip and the positioning and cutting of a new wrapper 1 for a newcycle of operations.

The ejected package in the guideway 120 is moved along the guideway bythe pressure of a follower 121. Such lateral pressure on the face of thepackages tends to bulge upward the narrow upper side of the package. Toreverse this outward bulging of the upper side of the package and topress the pull 15 running along the inner face of such side against theadhesive spot 32 applied by the applicator 33, we mount a series offingers 36 on a plate 123 which is connected, through pivoted links 124and 125 and spring 126, with an oscillating arm 62 of the paper feedmechanism. Consequently each paper feeding movement of the arm 62imparts a yielding pressure to a group of the finished packages on theguideway 120 without interfering with the movement of the packages toprovide room for the ejection of a new package. Such repeated yieldingpressure insures the adhesion of the pull 15 to the spot 32 whosetackiness increases during its transit from the applicator 33 to thefingers 36.

From the foregoing it will be understood that during or immediately uponthe completion of the ejection of a filled pouch from a given former 9at position XII (Fig. 23), the shaft 82 is rotated to impart rotation tothe feed wheels 66 and 67 which feed a predetermined length of laminatedtape, which has been creased by the folder 65, through the slot 12 andonto the top 9a of the former 9, which has just been emptied.

As soon as a length of tape suflicient to form a pull 15' has been laid,it is severed by the operation of the cutter 68 by the cam 93 andintermediate linkage. Substantially simultaneously with the laying ofthe tape, the arms 62 and the rollers 55 and 56 advance a strip of sheetmaterial T from which a new wrapper 1 is severed and slit by the knives6, 7 and 8 while in position for engagement by the leading face of theformer 9. The wrapper is bent around the former 9 and over the pull(Fig. 21) upon the movement of the turret 40 in a clockwise directionwhen looked at from the front (anti- 12 clockwise as it appears in Figs.19 and 31). The bending of the wrapper 1 over the pull 15 bends the end15a of the latter at right angles thereto against the step 13 (Fig. 22)and, while the pull end 15a is so bent, a spot of adhesive is applied bythe applicator 17 and on a part 1a of the wrapper which willsubsequently form an end truck of the package; the spot being near thebase of the pull and 15a. After the bottom of the wrapper has beentucked and folded and the wrapper has been sheathed in a pouch in theusual manner during the progress of the former from station XII tostation VI, the projecting end of the pull 15a is bent back (Figs. 28,32) against the adhesive spot applied by the applicator 17.

Thereafter a bundle of cigarettes, preferably arranged in rows of 767are inserted in the former and partway within the length of the pouchformed by the wrapper 1 and label 18 and a further spot of adhesive 32is applied by the applicator 33 to a cigarette aligned with the pull 15at a point on the cigarette just beyond the outer edge of the wrapper.

The bundled cigarettes are then pushed completely into the pouch (Figs.23, 34) and the open end of the wrapper 1 is tucked and folded (Figs. 33and 34) so that the extremity 15a of the pull projects laterally fromthe completed package. An intermediate section of the pull strip forms aloop (Fig. 14) around the end tuck 1a and the inner section of the pullstrip is adhesively connected to an end cigarette of the middle row,which cigarette is spaced from the package wall and slides freely ingrooves formed by adjacent cigarettes of the two outer rows 31a and 31b.The end tuck 1a and the outer section of the pull loop thereon arepartly covered by the severed end sections 10 and 1d of side flaps bentdown from the front and back walls of the wrapper 1 and such flaps aresecured in folded position by a stamp 37 or the like; the stamp beingpasted to the front and back walls and main portions of the flaps 1c and1d and projecting slightly over the edges of the severed portions 1c and1d of the flaps.

When the projecting end 15a of the pull strip is pulled laterally, itraises the tuck 1a to which it is adhesively connected and thereby drawsthe severed fold sections 10 and 1d from beneath the edge of the stamp37 and turns them upwardly. A continued lateral pull on the pull splitsit from its adhesive connection to the outer face of the tuck 1a andthereupon imparts an endwise stress on the cigarette 310, which isthereby drawn up ward until the adhesive spot 32 rises above the top ofthe package, whereupon the pull 15 splits or strips off the cigarette31c and leaves it partially projecting from the package but free fromthe pull strip.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. In the art of packaging, the steps which include bending a wrapperaround a pull lying substantially parallel to the bends so formed insaid wrapper, and bending end sections of said wrapper to form an endclosure having a tuck looped by said pull and flaps partially overlyingsaid tuck and pull and leaving exposed an end of said pull adjacent tothe loop thereof.

2.- In the art of packaging, the steps which include sequentiallysevering a wrap from a web, wrapping a severed wrapper around a sectionof a pull to form a pouch while said pull is unattached to said wrapper,looping said pull around an end of said wrapper, attaching a section ofsaid pull to an end section of said pouch, and bending end sections ofsaid wrapper to form an end closure having a tuck formed from said endsection first named and looped by said pull.

3. In the art of packaging, the steps which include wrapping a wrapperaround a section of a pull and leaving a pull section projectingtherefrom, sheathing said wrapper in a jacket, bending said projectingpull section over said wrapper and attaching said projecting pullsection to said wrapper with its end overlying said sheathing jacket.

4. Packaging apparatus comprising a former, means for feeding a wrapperstrip to said former, and cutter mechanism having spaced blades forslitting the edge section of said wrapper strip concurrently alongspaced lines and for severing a wrapper from said strip between a pairof said concurrently formed slits.

5. Packaging apparatus comprising a movable former having a guide slot,means for laying a pull in said guide slot and on said former lengthwisethereof, and a guard closing said slot to retain a pull therein duringmovement of said former relative to said guard and about an axis offsetfrom saidformer.

6. Packaging apparatus comprising a rotatable turret, hollow formersaround said turret, means for feeding a continuous strip of wrappingtoward said turret, a severing cutter and a margin slitter movable intothe path of wrapping delivered from said means to each former, saidcutter forming edges transverse to the side edges of said strip and saidslitter intersecting an edge of a wrapping which had been an edge ofsaid strip and at a considerable distance from any edge formed by saidcutter and means for folding a section of wrapping severed by saidcutter around each former, to form a container, and means folding theslit margin of said section to form a slit end closure for saidcontainer.

7. Packaging apparatus comprising a rotatable turret, hollow formersaround said turret, means for feeding a continuous strip of wrappingtoward said turret, a severing cutter movable into the path of wrappingdelivered from said means vto each former and margin slitters movableinto the path of a longitudinal edge of said continuous strip to cutconverging slits extending inward from said longitudinal edge, means forshooting the free end of a pull strip along a horizontal upper surfaceof one of said formers and substantially parallel with said severingcutter, means for cutting said pull strip adjacent to the end of saidformer, and means for folding a section of wrapping severed by saidcutter around each former to form a container with said converging slitson opposite sides of said pull strip, and means folding the slit marginof said section to form a slit end closure for said container inoperable relation to a severed section of said pull strip.

8. In the art of packaging, the steps which include feeding a wrapperstrip, slitting a marginal section of said strip diagonally to the edgethereof to form a slit, cutting a wrapper from said strip, folding saidwrapper to form a container having a body and a tuck extendingtransversely to said body and having an edge extending substantiallyacross the hop of said body, said body including a substantiallyrectangular side having a longitudinal edge spaced from said slit, saidslit being adjacent to said edge, bending down a section of saidsubstantially rectangular side along a line parallel to said first namededge and at a distance therefrom approximating the distance between saidslit and said second named edge, folding said slit marginal section toform a fiap over said side section and form therewith an end closuretransverse to said body, said tuck and flap normally remaining folded.

9. In the art of packaging, the steps which include feeding a wrapperstrip, slitting a marginal section of said strip simultaneously at aplurality of points, severing a wrapper from said strip between saidsimultaneously slit points, folding said wrapper transversely to thelength thereof to form a container body and bending a part of saidmarginal section between said slit therein to form a tuck nonnallyremaining folded which tuck has an edge transverse to said body, andbending the remainder of said marginal section to form flaps normallyremaining closed having edges adjacent to the edge of said tuck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

